Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Education Program Offered at Egerton University

Teaching people how to restore peace when it breaks down and maintain peaceful relations has been a continuous endeavor in human societies. This is because conflicts are natural. This subsequently explains the diversity in conflict management methods to encompass peace building, peace making and conflict transformation. But despite these methods, scholars have realized that to create conducive conditions for peace, cessation of violence is not enough.

Creating a culture of peace requires development of values, beliefs and attitudes that recognizes and empowers the community to play an active role in conflict transformation. That is how the concept of peace education came about to be proposed as a degree programme to be offered.
In Kenya, there has been some form of Peace Education. This can be seen through courses such as development and environmental studies that are offered as common courses in Universities and also civic education that is carried out by civil societies. However, these activities do not reflect a comprehensive peace education that can generate a culture of peace.
Education is considered an important and a key feature in managing various issues in any society. It is also perceived as an instrument for alleviating poverty, promoting social change, equality and general well being of a people. Despite this recognition worldwide, the role of education in conflict resolution particularly in Kenya has received minimal attention. Instead, the focus of education in conflict has been on its effects, which include; destruction of schools, death of teachers and pupils as well as effects on development.
Since conflicts are natural, there is thus a need to embark on developing skills to deal with intolerance and violence. A Bachelor of Arts in Peace Education programme is therefore customized to help the Kenyan community to move from a culture of violence that is well known, to a culture of peace and tranquility.
Moreover, the post election violence experienced in early 2008 in Kenya was a wake up call to institutions of higher education, NGOs and civil societies to rethink mechanisms to settle internal disputes in a non-violent manner. This clearly show that there is need to equip the Kenyan society, especially the youth and security agencies, with skills and knowledge that can help them cope with the social, economic, environmental and political challenges.
There are many opportunities for those trained in the peace education discipline. Graduates with BA in Peace Education are likely to find employment with the following;

• Civil Society Organizations
• Human Right Bodies
• Government
• International Organizations working for peace and education
• Teaching
• Security Agencies

The general aim of the B.A. Arts in Peace Education programme at Egerton University is to build a culture of peace through the education system to enable students learn and acquire values and skills that are congruent with peaceful behaviour. The specific objectives of the programme are as follows:

• To formalize, institutionalize and strengthen peace education in Kenya through curriculum development;
• To facilitate capacity-building on peace education for educators, professionals in education institutions and civil society organization;
• To advance the culture of peace through education;
• To conduct research and disseminate information on peace education;
• To provide an avenue for networking for all organizations, and institutions working for peace.

To be eligible for admission to the BA (Peace Education) programme at Egerton University, the applicant must satisfy the minimum entry requirement for a Bachelors degree of Egerton University as stipulated in the University statutes. The students must therefore have attained a mean grade of C+ (plus) at the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KSCE) or its equivalent;

• In addition, applicants to the programme must have attained at least a grade C+ in any one of the following subjects at KSCE; History, Geography or Religious Studies;
• Holders of Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) are eligible if they have attained one (1) principal in History, Geography, or Religious Studies;
• Admission may also be offered to Diploma holders who have passed with at least a credit or its equivalent from recognised colleges or Universities.

Mininum Entry Requirements for Bachelor's Degree
The entry requirements set out below are only minimum, and they in no way entitle an applicant to a place in the University. Applicants must:

• Have the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with an average grade C+ (C plus)passed at one sitting from at least seven subjects drawn from subject groupings as specified by the Kenya National Examinations Council or its equivalent.

OR

• Have one of the following combinations of passes in the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education examination:
• Two (2) Principal passes obtained at the same sitting.

OR

• Egerton University Statutes 2008 43
• Two (2) Principal passes obtained at different sittings provided the passes are of Grade C or higher.

OR

• Hold a Diploma of Egerton University with a 'Credit' pass or higher or an equivalent
• Qualification from a recognized institution in the relevant field of specialization acceptable to Senate. Those with a 'Pass' Diploma will be considered if they have at least two years relevant experience after graduation.

AND
Meet additional entry requirements as may be specified by the respective Department, Faculty, School or Institute.

To be admitted for a PRE-SERVICE DEGREE PROGRAM, a prospective candidate must have all the requirements set up by the joint Admission Board (JAB), with a prospective IN-SERVICE student must have completed a diplomaprogram in the relevant field and graduated with at least a CREDIT.

In line with Egerton University academic policies, to graduate with a BA in Peace Education students in the programme must successfully complete a minimum of 159.5 CFs. These shall include courses in Peace Education, Common Core Courses and other approved courses aimed at developing a well-rounded student in the programme and in the field of education.
The BA (Peace Education) program is normally covered in four (4) academic years for a full-time student. Part-time students can take the course within eight (8) academic yearsCourse Coding
 

Egerton University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya. It was founded as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, a British national who settled in Kenya in the 1920s.

Egerton University has three (3) Campuses and one Campus College.

The main Campus is based at ... read more